How to write a CV [Get noticed by employers]

Summary

This video guide offers a comprehensive strategy for crafting a standout CV that impresses recruiters and secures job interviews. It covers essential research, structuring, formatting, and content tips, emphasizing the importance of hard skills and a professional appearance. The guide also advises on how to detail work experience and education effectively, and when to include hobbies and interests. It aims to help job seekers make a strong first impression and land their dream jobs.

Takeaways

• 📄 A strong CV is crucial as it creates the first impression on employers during job hunting.
• 🔍 Research target roles by reviewing job adverts to identify common candidate requirements and skills in demand.
• 💼 Focus on hard skills such as industry-specific knowledge, IT systems, languages, and qualifications rather than soft skills for the CV.
• 📝 Structure your CV to please recruiters, ensuring it is professional, easy to navigate, and concise to hold recruiters' attention.
• 🖋 Use a clean, crisp font and a simple color scheme for your CV to maintain a professional outlook.
• 📑 Keep the CV length to two pages of A4 to ensure it is comprehensive yet not overwhelming.
• 🔑 Include only essential contact details at the top of the CV, avoiding personal information that is irrelevant to hiring decisions.
• 📝 Craft a compelling CV profile or personal statement that summarizes your abilities and catches recruiters' attention.
• 📋 List your most relevant skills in a bullet-point format to provide a quick snapshot of your qualifications.
• 🗓 Present your work experience in reverse chronological order, focusing on recent roles and detailing achievements with quantifiable results.
• 🎓 Place your education section towards the bottom of the CV, with details tailored to your experience level.
• 🎨 Hobbies and interests are optional and should only be included if they add value or are relevant to the target roles.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of a CV when job hunting?

A CV serves as the first impression for employers and is crucial in making a strong impact to get noticed by recruiters and land job interviews.

Why is researching target roles important before writing a CV?

Researching target roles helps identify the skills and knowledge employers are seeking, allowing the job seeker to tailor their CV to impress potential employers.

What should be the focus when listing candidate requirements from job adverts?

The focus should be on hard skills such as industry-specific skills, IT system knowledge, languages, and qualifications, as soft skills are generally applicable to most jobs.

How should the structure and format of a CV contribute to its overall outlook?

The structure and format should make the CV look flawlessly professional, easy to navigate, and enable recruiters to quickly find the necessary information.

What is the recommended length for a CV and why?

A CV should ideally be two pages of A4, as this is usually enough to convey one's story without overwhelming the reader, considering recruiters often review hundreds of CVs daily.

Why should a CV avoid fancy fonts and wacky color schemes?

Fancy fonts and color schemes can make a CV look unprofessional and difficult to read, detracting from the clarity and professionalism expected in a job application.

What should be included in the contact details section of a CV?

The contact details should include a professional email address, phone number, and location, while avoiding personal information like full address, date of birth, marital status, or a photo.

What is the purpose of the CV profile or personal statement?

The CV profile or personal statement is an introductory paragraph that summarizes the candidate's skills, experience, and knowledge to catch the recruiter's attention and encourage them to read the rest of the CV.

How should work experience be presented in a CV?

Work experience should be listed in reverse chronological order, with more detail for recent roles and less for older ones, focusing on responsibilities and achievements that demonstrate the candidate's skills and impact.

What is the role of the education section in a CV?

The education section lists all relevant qualifications with dates obtained, providing a summary of the candidate's academic background, with more depth for junior candidates.

When should hobbies and interests be included in a CV?

Hobbies and interests should be included only if they are relevant to the target roles or showcase impressive achievements that demonstrate drive and can help the candidate stand out.